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Why do we celebrate Valentines Day Every February across the country candy flowers and gifts are given to loved ones all in the name of St Valentine The history of Valentines Day is a mystery February has always been a month of romance St Valentines Day contains remains of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St Valentines Day around 498 AD In the Middle Ages it was believed in France and England that February 14th was the beginning of birds mating season this added to the idea that the middle of February should be a day for romance Today the Catholic Church recognizes three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus all of whom were martyred One legend is said that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families Therefore he outlawed marriage for young single men because he felt they were his crop of potential soldiers Valentine felt that was injustice and he defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret Valentines actions were discovered and Claudius ordered that he be put to death It is said that Valentine sent the first valentine himself It is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl while in prison The young girl may have been the jailers daughter and she visited him during his confinement It is also believed that before Valentines death he wrote a letter to the young girl which he signed From your Valentine an expression that is still used today Some believe Valentines Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentines death or burial which occurred around 270 AD Valentines Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century in Great Britain By the eighteenth century it was common for friends and lovers

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